Five Aggregates (오온)

Pages Information

Content

Five Aggregates (pañca-khandhā) 오온

The theory of the five aggregates, or “pañca-khandhā,” is an excellent Buddhist classification system which
analyzes human existence. In this system, human existence is divided into five
components: form, feeling, perception, mental formations and
consciousness. Because the five aggregates constantly change, they are
impermanent and therefore, bring suffering. There is no "self" in
these five impermanent aggregates (non-self or anatman). A human being is only
a temporary collection of these five aggregates. As such, there is no single
component of the five aggregates which can be claimed as “self,” but sentient
beings continually hold on to their belief in self. This belief comes from the
five aggregates of attachment.

Form (rūpa): Materiality or the
physical bodyFeeling (vedana): Receptive or sensory functions of consciousnessPerception (saññā): Function of consciousness which forms concepts, perceptions and symbols

Mental formations (saṅkhāra): Intentions or behavioral needs which
are active mental functions not included in the aggregates of feeling or perception

Consciousness (viññāṇa): Mental
functions which perceive an object through discrimination, judgment and
integration

- excerpt from Buddhist English (Elementary 2) published in 2014 by the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism​​​

​- excerpt from Buddhist English (Elementary 2) published in 2014 by the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism​​​